How did the ancient olympic athletes train?

Answer 1

Depends on each sport.

Drastically depends on the sport. many athletes have been training for the same event for 5+ years. Each year builds on the foundation of training from previous years.

Most elite athletes train in "macrocylces" with the cycles designed to lead to peak peformance on the date of their event. A macrocycle begins with a "base strength" phase, where the muscles are strengthened and a cardio base is built. Then it gets progressively more specific including speed training or whatever the event requires. Intensity increases while quantitiy is reduced to prevent fatigue/injury. If the cycle is successful it will result in peak performance on or about the week of the event. Its actually very scientific at the elite level, with coaches who have studied human physiology and usually having a doctorate in the field. Its much much more complicated and scientific than "just train and train hard and eat nutritious".

Actually during the current time period most athletes are in the "tapering" phase that will lead to maximum strength for their event. A taper is designed to allow full recovery and training effect from the previous bouts of intense, sport specific training in the last phase of the macrocycle. There are also microcyles, and mesocylcles within a training regimen. type training macrocylcles in Google and you will see it is really over our heads unless we are a sports physiologist.

Here is the basic format of a 10-month macrocycle:

* Phase 1 - General development of strength, mobility, endurance and basic technique

* Phase 2 - Development of specific fitness and advanced technical skills

* Phase 3 - Competition experience - achievement of indoor objectives

* Phase 4 - Adjustment of technical model, preparation for the main competition

* Phase 5 - Competition (Olympics)

* Phase 6 - Active recovery - planning preparation for next season

Answer 2

Ancient Olympic athletes trained in their home towns. They were often trained by former athletes and the training often involved sparring, grappling, boxing, and Wrestling.

Answer 3

stretch i guess or eat healthy